FMD

News story: One year on from the first ever blended-learning medical education programme

Pedro Elston – Reader in Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry - reflects on the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry's ground-breaking blended-learning medical education programme

News story: Non-tumour cells in pancreatic cancer may reduce the effectiveness of the body’s natural immune response

The relationship the immune system and stromal cells in pancreatic cancer can have a significant impact on patients’ survival rates, according to findings of Queen Mary-led study.

News story: Queen Mary University vaccination tool boosts uptake of MMR vaccine in children

Study finds APL-Imms tool helps GP practices reach more children with timely measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination.

News story: Queen Mary University at centre of Government’s ‘Future Framework’ for UK-Qatar relations

Queen Mary University of London is leading the way in the Government’s new ‘Future Framework’ for UK-Qatar relations. The framework set out a new science, innovation and technology dialogue which brings together UK and Qatari policy, research and academic expertise to create high impact collaborations in areas of aligned strategic importance.

News story: New study reveals genetic drivers of early onset type 2 diabetes in South Asians  

A genetic predisposition to having lower insulin production and less healthy fat distribution are major causes of early-onset type 2 diabetes in British Asian people, according to new research from Genes & Health.

News story: Professor Sir Mark Caulfield receives honorary doctorate from Odessa National Medical University in Ukraine

Professor Sir Mark Caulfield was instrumental in setting up a partnership between Queen Mary and the Odessa National Medical University that enabled medical students from Ukraine to gain vital clinical experience in London, allowing them to continue their medical training despite the ongoing conflict.

News story: Queen Mary researchers among the world’s most highly cited for 2024

Researchers from across the University have been recognised for authoring multiple highly cited papers which rank in the top 1% by citations in their field for 2024

News story: Making HIV research and treatment more inclusive

On World AIDS Day, we celebrate the contribution of Queen Mary researchers to tackling health inequalities faced by people with HIV – through the clinical development and implementation of life-changing HIV treatments, and research methods that ensure inclusive clinical trials and equitable access to treatments.

News story: Researchers call for inclusive cancer trials and treatments to address an overlooked source of structural racism

Researchers from Harvard University and Queen Mary University of London have proposed policy changes in cancer care to take account of a common genetic variation. 

News story: Queen Mary researchers take the lead in newly launched NHS DigiTrials studies

Teams from the Wolfson Institute of Population Health will lead two of the four DigiTrails projects which will recruit 150,000 volunteers onto research trials that could transform cancer treatment.

News story: New study links heart shape to cardiovascular disease

A groundbreaking multi-national study has revealed that the shape of the human heart, influenced by genetic factors, could serve as a valuable predictor for cardiovascular disease risk. 

News story: Dementia training programme created by Queen Mary researchers hailed as example of best practice by new Alzheimer’s Society report

NIDUS-Family is one of only two case studies identified in the report as leading the way in improving training for staff and families of people with dementia.

News story: Professor Sir Mark Caulfield receives Stokes Medal for outstanding contribution to cardiovascular disease

Professor Sir Mark Caulfield, VP Health at Queen Mary University of London, received the Irish Cardiac Society Stokes Medal on Friday, recognising his outstanding contribution to cardiovascular disease throughout his career. 

News story: Cancer-killing virus treatment shows promise in brain tumour trial

An innovative cancer-killing virus shows promise for tackling glioblastoma, an aggressive type of brain tumour, according to new results from a phase I clinical trial published in Nature Communications.  

News story: €9.8m ERC Synergy grant awarded to study how human tissues stay healthy as we age

Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute and Queen Mary University of London have been awarded €9.8 million from the European Research Council to investigate how tissue homeostasis, the body’s ‘status quo’, is maintained over time, and how genetic mutations can help or hinder this process. 

News story: £1.1 million fund awarded to understand how glycans shape the amphibian skin microbiome and susceptibility to a deadly fungus

A team based at Queen Mary University of London and Imperial College London has received £1.1 million funding from the UK Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) to crack the “sugar code” in the amphibian skin. The research aims to understand how glycan shapes the amphibian skin microbiome and leads it to be susceptible to a deadly fungus.

News story: Charlie Sellar awarded scholarship for next generation of healthcare leaders

Final year medical student from the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Charlie Sellar, has been awarded a prestigious scholarship from the Healthcare Leadership Academy (HLA) in recognition of his great potential for becoming a leader in healthcare. 

News story: Study uncovers the true burden of asthma in African pupils

Rapid urbanisation and population growth in sub-Saharan Africa has increased the incidence of asthma in young people, but the lack of diagnosis and care means that many suffer from untreated symptoms, according to research led by the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry.

News story: Study reveals 85% of women prefer choice between self-sampling and traditional cervical screening

Research highlights growing demand for more flexibility and accessible cervical cancer testing options.

News story: Queen Mary joins multi-million-pound UK-wide platform into cancer immunotherapy

The University is part of a nationwide team launching a new platform to understand immunotherapy response and side effects in cancer.

News story: Research heralds new era for genetics

Research led by scientists at Queen Mary University of London is heralding in a new era for genetic sequencing and testing.  

News story: Queen Mary is part of new London Advanced Therapy ATTC

Queen Mary University of London is delighted to be a part of the new London-based Advanced Therapy Treatment Centre (ATTC). 

News story: Queen Mary University of London researchers announce ground-breaking clinical trial results for hard-to-treat cancers

Professors Tom Powles and Peter Schmid delivered results from their phase three clinical trials during Sunday’s Presidential Symposium at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2024, a global event showcasing cutting-edge cancer research to over 30,000 attendees.

News story: Joint research with Harvard reveals health inequalities in cancer

Research by Queen Mary and Harvard shows that people with the Duffy-null phenotype – a trait found predominantly in people of African or Middle Eastern descent – may be erroneously excluded from clinical trials and some cancer treatments due to misinterpretation of their routine blood test results.

News story: More children walked or cycled to school after the introduction of ULEZ, finds new study from Queen Mary and the University of Cambridge

Researchers found 4 in 10 London children swopped to more active forms of transport, compared to students in Luton, which has no driving restrictions.

News story: Three world-renowned professors appointed to lead Academic Centre for Healthy Aging

Three internationally-leading professors have been appointed as Professorial Chairs for the Academic Centre for Healthy Ageing (ACHA), a new centre created by Barts Health NHS Trust and Queen Mary University of London, with £6.6 million from Barts Charity.

News story: Alzheimer’s Society funds new Doctoral Training Centre for Integrated Care

The Alzheimer’s Society has awarded £3.1million to fund a Doctoral Training Centre to be based at the Wolfson Institute of Population Health

News story: New study finds more people at risk of hereditary heart disease

More people in the UK are at risk of a hereditary form of cardiac amyloidosis, a potentially fatal heart condition, than previously thought - according to a new study led by researchers at Queen Mary University of London and UCL.

News story: Queen Mary researchers named in the top 100 female scientists in the UK

For the third year in a row, Fran Balkwill, Irene Leigh and Claudia Langenberg remain in the list of the UK’s top 100 female scientists. 

News story: Addressing the environmental impact of haematology care

An In-Focus analysis in Lancet Haematology calls for greater understanding of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, to inform effective and prudent health practice in haematology care.

News story: University of Oxford, Queen Mary University of London, and Genomics England publish new haplotype reference panel for UK Biobank

The new, more accurate panel has helped to identify several new rare-variant associations for tested traits, using data collected by Genomics England.

News story: International collaboration awarded £2.2 million to trial a new approach to disease management in Thailand

An international team from Queen Mary University of London, Chiang Mai University, the Ministry of Public Health in Thailand, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine has received funding to pilot an intervention to empower doctors in Thailand to improve outcomes for their patients.

News story: New review calls for further research on the way endocrine function is impacted by global temperature changes

The research discusses the impact of climate change on the systems that facilitate physiological adaptations to heat exposure

News story: Blood proteins predict the risk of developing more than 60 diseases

Protein ‘signatures’, which can be obtained via a blood sample, can be used to predict the onset of 67 diseases including multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, motor neurone disease, pulmonary fibrosis, and dilated cardiomyopathy. Using protein information to predict the onset of diseases could help with timely diagnosis, early initiation of treatment and improved patient outcomes.  

News story: Largest international trial of time-lapse imaging systems for embryo incubation and selection in IVF finds it gives no advantage over conventional methods

There is no difference in live birth rates between time-lapse imaging and other standard approaches used in in vitro fertilisation (IVF) for embryo incubation and selection prior to implantation, according to research led by Queen Mary.

News story: Building a path to accessible medical education

Professor Chie Adachi, Dean for Digital Education in the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, discusses how our pioneering Digital Education Studio is making medical education more accessible.

News story: Children living in deprived areas are three times more likely to need dental extractions in hospital

Children living in areas with high levels of deprivation are three times more likely to have severe tooth decay that requires a dental extraction in hospital, compared with children living in more affluent areas. The findings highlight an urgent need for equitable access to preventive dentistry.

News story: New method of measuring tumour infiltrating lymphocytes predicts long term outcomes for a type of early breast cancer

Researchers from Queen Mary University London and Emory University used a novel AI-based analytic tool to better understand how tumour infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) can predict which cases of Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) would go on to become invasive breast cancer.

News story: Queen Mary researchers elected to membership of EMBO

Queen Mary University of London congratulates Professor Claudia Langenberg and Dr Isabel M Palacios on their recent election to the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) Membership. 

News story: Professor John Gribben receives prestigious José Carreras award from the European Hematology Association (EHA)

Professor Gribben was awarded the honour in recognition of his exceptional achievements and pivotal role in shaping the landscape of blood disorder (haematological) research.

News story: Professor Ferranti Wong elected as the President of European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry

Professor Wong was presented with the presidential chain of office during the EAPD congress in Gothenburg, Sweden, last month.

News story: The ThinkHand study: bringing researchers, clinicians, and people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) together to focus on preserving upper limb function

This innovative and wide-ranging campaign raised awareness of the importance of upper limb function in MS and the need to develop alternative ways to measure, record, and account for hand and arm function changes.

News story: New genetic atlas of periodontal cell types shows gum disease may be caused by immunosuppression of the keratinocytes in the mouth

Researchers have for the first time created an integrated single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) atlas of the human periodontium, the specialised tissues in the mouth that connect teeth to the underlying bone. This atlas will help identify the unique environments that impact on the development of gum disease (periodontitis), leading to better and more precise treatments. 

News story: Professor Chloe Orkin receives MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours

Queen Mary University of London is delighted to congratulate Professor Chloe Orkin, who has been recognised with an MBE for services to NHS in the 2024 King’s Birthday Honours list.

News story: UNFPA and Queen Mary publish regional reports to help countries across the world meet COP commitments to tackle gender injustice from climate change

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Queen Mary University of London have published five regional reports to support the integration of sexual and reproductive health and rights and related themes in the nationally determined contributions (NDCs) of countries across the world. 

News story: New research suggests weight bearing after ankle fracture surgery may be more beneficial than previously thought

A new study from the Bone and Joint Health research group indicates that advice on weight bearing after treatment for ankle fractures may need to be adjusted to ensure the best outcomes for post-surgical care.

News story: Preparing for a world where Alzheimer’s disease is treatable

Drugs with the potential to change the course of Alzheimer’s disease are expected to be approved by mid-year in the UK. Healthcare services may need to change to ensure that all patients have equitable access to these new modifying anti-amyloid therapies.

News story: First-of-its-kind test can predict dementia up to nine years before diagnosis

Researchers from the Centre of Preventive Neurology have developed a new method for predicting dementia with over 80% accuracy and up to nine years before a diagnosis. The new method provides a more accurate way to predict dementia than memory tests or measurements of brain shrinkage, two commonly used methods for diagnosing dementia.

News story: Analysing DNA ‘tags’: new Epigenetics Hub set to advance early disease detection

A £3m collaboration between researchers at Queen Mary University of London and Barts Health NHS Trust will investigate how the marks on DNA in blood can be used to detect a disease at an early stage.

News story: Professor Jack Cuzick awarded the prestigious Galen Medal by the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries

The Galen Medal in Therapeutics has been presented by the Society of Apothecaries annually since 1925 and is its most prestigious honour.

News story: Research led by Queen Mary suggests that people with more copies of ribosomal DNA have higher risks of developing disease

Analysis of previously unstudied areas of the genomes of 500,000 people indicates that individuals who have more copies of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) are more likely to develop inflammation and diseases during their lifetimes.

News story: Professor Xavier Griffin awarded prestigious travelling fellowship by the British Orthopaedic Association

The Fellowship facilitates the visit of orthopaedic experts to centres of excellence in Canada and the USA.

News story: Notification! You may have cancer. Could smartphones and wearables help detect cancer early?

Suzanne Scott, Professor of Health Psychology and Early Cancer Diagnosis in the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, discusses how technology could change how we monitor our health and the issues we need to consider now to optimise the chance of success. 

News story: Lung cancer study confirms benefits of screening across socioeconomic groups

New research indicates that people from all socioeconomic groups benefit from low-dose-CT screening in terms of lung cancer survival

News story: Professor Amrita Ahluwalia elected as Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences

Amrita Ahluwalia, Professor of Vascular Pharmacology and Dean of Research for the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at Queen Mary University of London, is one of 58 exceptional biomedical and health scientists elected by the Academy to its prestigious Fellowship. 

News story: Professor Frances Balkwill elected as Fellow of the Royal Society

Professor Frances Balkwill OBE FMedSci FRS is one of 90 exceptional researchers across the world to be elected this year to the Fellowship of the Royal Society, the UK’s national academy of sciences.

News story: HPV vaccination is a highly effective way of reducing cervical disease, finds research led Professor of Cancer Epidemiology, Peter Sasieni

The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme in England has been associated with a substantial reduction in cervical disease across all socioeconomic groups. 

News story: Dementia Action Week: Spotlight on the NIHR Policy Research Unit in Dementia and Neurodegeneration at Queen Mary University of London (DeNPRU-QM)

For Dementia Action Week, we’re showcasing work happening now in the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry to improve our understanding of how we diagnose, and provide care and treatment to people living with dementia. 

News story: Research finds genetic variation that could lead to increased risk of viral infections

A new study, led by Jesmond Dalli, Professor of Molecular Pharmacology at Queen Mary University of London, has found that people with a genetic mutation which leads to a reduction in a protein called LGR6, found on the surface of immune cells, have a decreased ability to clear viral infections.

News story: Professor Nikolaos Donos awarded the EFP Distinguished Scientist Award by the European Federation of Peridontology

Professor Donos' award was given as recognition for his exceptional achievements and commitment to the field of peridontology.

News story: Queen Mary launches global search for leading researchers in medicine and dentistry

Queen Mary University of London is investing in its world-leading research through the creation of at least 15 new strategic professorial roles.

News story: Thomas Powles named in TIME's list of the 100 most influential people in global health this year 

Queen Mary University of London’s Professor Thomas Powles has been recognised in the 2024 TIME100 Health list for his breakthrough success in treating severe bladder cancer. 

News story: New £42 million screening trial to improve efficacy of prostate cancer screening

Queen Mary’s Professor Rhian Gabe is named as one of six lead researchers in the new £42 million TRANSFORM trial to find the best way to screen for prostate cancer.

News story: Researchers identify over 2,000 genetic signals linked to blood pressure in study of over 1 million people

The Queen Mary-led study reveals the most detailed picture yet of genetic contributors to blood pressure. The findings lead to improved polygenic risk scores, which will better predict blood pressure and risk for hypertension.

News story: New studies into malnutrition and infant mortality highlight Queen Mary’s close collaboration with researchers in Zimbabwe and Zambia

Two research papers published today identify mechanisms that contribute to the long-term impacts of malnutrition and HIV infection on children.

News story: Standard diabetes test may be inaccurate for 10,000s of South Asian people in UK

Research led by Dr Miriam Samuel and colleagues in Genes & Health shows that a gene variant almost exclusively found in people of South Asian heritage affects the accuracy of the HbA1c test commonly used to diagnose type 2 diabetes.

News story: Queen Mary students celebrated in campaign that spotlights the success of ‘first in family’ students

A new national campaign, led by Universities UK (UUK), celebrates the extraordinary success of students from Queen Mary University of London who were the first in their families to attend university. 

News story: Analysing the evidence: an interview with Professor Amrita Ahluwalia

In this interview, Professor Ahluwalia discusses her role in analysing some of the evidence collected during a police investigation into the use of a legal chemical to assist suicide.

News story: Professors Segun Fatumo and Simon Haas to join Queen Mary’s Precision Health University Research Institute

The two appointments to the Precision Health University Research Institute (PHURI) strengthen the Institute’s focus on precision medicine and reflect its commitment to genomic diversity in research.

News story: Queen Mary one of five top universities forming a new collaborative research centre for preterm birth research

The Tommy’s National Centre for Preterm Birth Research brings together leading researchers from Queen Mary with colleagues from Imperial College, University College, King's College, and the University of Leeds. 

News story: Secrets of the naked mole-rat: new study reveals how their unique metabolism protects them from heart attacks

This unusual, subterranean mammal with extreme longevity shows genetic adaptations to low oxygen environments which could offer opportunities for advancing other areas of physiological and medical research in humans. 

News story: New NICE guideline on familial and genetic risk for ovarian cancer, led by Queen Mary researchers, now published

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published new guidance, ‘Ovarian cancer: identifying and managing familial and genetic risk’. The guideline is the product of painstaking work by Professor Ranjit Manchanda, Professor of Gynaecological Oncology, and an expert committee including Dr Adam Brentnall, Senior Lecturer in Biostatistics - both from the Wolfson Institute of Population Health.

News story: Inorganic nitrate can help protect patients against kidney damage caused during coronary angiographic procedures

A five-day course of once-daily inorganic nitrate reduces the risk of a serious complication following a coronary angiogram, in which the dye used causes damage to the kidneys. The treatment was also shown to improve renal outcomes at three months and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) at one year compared to placebo.

News story: Professor Nikolaos Donos awarded the prestigious IADR Distinguished Scientist in Research in Periodontal Disease Award

Professor Donos, Director of Research and Head of Clinical Research at the Institute of Dentistry, was presented with the award - the highest international award in the field of Periodontology - at the 102nd General Session and Exhibition of the International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (IADR) in New Orleans this week.

News story: School-age girls with obesity are more likely to experience joint and muscle pain

Girls with obesity are more likely to experience pain in their bones, joints, muscles, ligaments or tendons compared with children with a healthy weight, according to research by Queen Mary University of London. The same did not apply to boys. 

News story: Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry recognises excellence at the annual awards event

The Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry gathered at the Barbican last night to recognise those colleagues who had made the most outstanding contributions to scholarship, collegiality, and students over the past year.

News story: Queen Mary to host new hub for national mental health research platform

Jennifer Lau, Professor of Youth Resilience and Co-Director of the Youth Resilience Unit at the Wolfson Institute of Population Health, is heading one of the five research hubs to be established by the Medical Research Council (MRC) as part of a national initiative to improve the diagnosis, treatment, and support for people experiencing severe mental illness (SMI).

News story: Launch event for the Centre for Preventive Neurology showcases breadth of research into neurological disorders

The Centre for Preventive Neurology, based in the Wolfson Institute of Population Health, marked its official launch this week with a symposium at the Mile End campus.

News story: Olena Zelenska, First Lady of Ukraine, unites key stakeholders to help deliver post-war mental health recovery for young people in Ukraine

Queen Mary University of London and partners were honoured to welcome Olena Zelenska, First Lady of Ukraine and key stakeholders from the UK and Ukraine for a roundtable discussion on how to address the complex mental health needs of young people, particularly those affected by war.

News story: Study identifies multi-organ response to seven days without food

New findings reveal that the body undergoes significant, systematic changes across multiple organs during prolonged periods of fasting. The results demonstrate evidence of health benefits beyond weight loss, but also show that any potentially health-altering changes appear to occur only after three days without food.

News story: Queen Mary research team heads discovery of a new method to stop the growth of cancer cells

Research led by Professor Cleo Bishop from Queen Mary's Blizard Institute has found a way to put certain types of cancer cell to 'sleep', making them vulnerable to drug treatments.

News story: Professor Li Chan named winner of 2024 European Journal of Endocrinology Award

The European Society of Endocrinology (ESE) has announced that the 2024 European Journal of Endocrinology (EJE) Award has been awarded to Li Chan, Professor of Molecular Endocrinology and Metabolism at the Centre for Endocrinology at the William Harvey Institute.

News story: New treatment for a rare and aggressive cancer improves survival rates in breakthrough clinical trial

An innovative treatment significantly increases the survival of people with malignant mesothelioma, according to results from a clinical trial led by Professor Peter Szlosarek from the Centre for Cancer Cell and Molecular Biology in Barts Cancer Institute.

News story: Improving type 2 diabetes diagnosis and monitoring among ethnic minority groups

A new study into health inequalities in the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes amongst Black African, Caribbean, and some South Asian populations has begun in the Wolfson Institute of Population Health.

News story: UK Parliament Committee told vaping has ‘substantial potential’ to solve the problem of the harms caused by smoking

Professor Peter Hajek from the Wolfson Institute of Population Health told the Parliamentary Health and Social Care Committee today that ‘Alternative products have substantial potential to solve the [smoking] problem for us’.

News story: New clinic helps more patients in need of dental care

More residents in north east London will have access to free dental care, thanks to a collaboration between Barts Health NHS Trust, Queen Mary University of London and Community Health Partnerships (CHP).

News story: Study finds new treatment to reverse inflammation and arterial blockages in rheumatoid arthritis

Researchers from Queen Mary University of London have found that the molecule RvT4 enhances the body’s natural defences against atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

News story: ‘Rare positive result' in trial of new support intervention for people with dementia and their family carers

Research led by Claudia Cooper, Professor of Psychological Medicine and lead of the Centre for Psychiatry and Mental Health in the Wolfson Institute of Public Health, shows that NIDUS-Family therapy helps people with dementia and their family carers attain their personal goals.     

News story: National NHS BRCA gene testing to identify cancer risk early for people with Jewish ancestry

NHS England have announced a new screening programme to provide genetic testing for tens of thousands of people with Jewish ancestry, who are more likely to carry BRCA gene faults that can increase risk of breast, ovarian, prostate and pancreatic cancers.

News story: Meet the Queen Mary team preventing measles outbreaks in east London

As the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) declares a national incident following a measles outbreak in the West Midlands, we look at the work of the Clinical Effectiveness Group at Queen Mary, who are helping GPs to protect our local communities in east London.

News story: A look back at the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry's awards and prizes from 2023

Our Faculty has incredible teams and fantastic researchers - this is a quick round up of just some of the awards and honours they received during 2023.  

News story: New Queen Mary CENTRE FOR CANCER SCREENING, PREVENTION AND EARLY DIAGNOSIS

The launch of the new Centre for Cancer Screening, Prevention and Early Diagnosis (CCSPED) at Queen Mary University of London heralds a step forward for world leading cancer research and education.

News story: E-cigarettes help pregnant smokers quit without risks to pregnancy

A new analysis of trial data on pregnant smokers, led by researchers at Queen Mary University of London, finds that the regular use of nicotine replacement products during pregnancy is not associated with adverse pregnancy events or poor pregnancy outcomes. 

News story: Queen Mary awards honorary degrees to two outstanding individuals

Gareth Thomas and Professor Mark Wilson received honorary doctorates from Queen Mary University of London yesterday (9 January) as part of our winter graduation ceremonies.

News story: Landmark national study supports use of whole genome sequencing in standard cancer care

In the largest study of its kind, scientists today report how combining health data with whole genome sequence (WGS) data in patients with cancer can help doctors provide more tailored care for their patients.